[0001] A refrigerator is disclosed herein.
[0002] A refrigerator is a home appliance which keeps food in a low temperature state, and
may include one or both of a refrigerator compartment which keeps the food refrigerated,
and a freezer compartment which keeps the food frozen.
[0003] Also, recently, a dispenser is installed at a front surface of a door of the refrigerator,
and drinking water may be dispensed through the dispenser without opening the door
of the refrigerator.
[0004] And an ice maker which makes and stores ice may be provided at the door of the refrigerator
or an inside of a storage space, and the ice may be dispensed through the dispenser.
[0005] In Korean Patent Publication No.
10-2011-0085099, there is disclosed a refrigerator. In the refrigerator, water supplied from an outside
passes through a filter unit, and then is supplied to a water tank provided in a storage
compartment, and the water stored in the water tank is cooled by cooling air in the
storage compartment, and then supplied to the dispenser and the ice maker so as to
dispense the drinking water or to supply the water for forming the ice.
[0006] However, in such a conventional refrigerator, the cooled water is always supplied
to the ice maker and the dispenser, regardless of a user's choice. And when a large
amount of water is dispensed through the dispenser, the cooled water may not be dispensed
through the dispenser, or cooling performance may be degraded.
[0007] To solve the problems, in Korean Patent Publication No.
10-2014-0125233, there is disclosed a refrigerator in which a water tank for cooling supplied water
and a filter unit for purifying the supplied water are provided inside a storage compartment,
and pipes which are respectively connected to the water tank and the filter unit are
connected toward a dispenser, and thus cooled water and purified water may be selectively
supplied.
[0008] Document
EP2770280 discloses a refrigerator with a dispenser including a purified water dispensing port
through which purified water is dispensed and a cooled water dispensing port through
which cooled water is dispensed, thus improving the capacity to dispense the cooled
water. The refrigerator comprises a filter device and a water tank that is arranged
adjacent to the space in which the receiving device is mounted, and the set of filters
is arranged in parallel, thus improving storage efficiency of the refrigerator.
[0009] However, in such a conventional refrigerator, since all of the cooled water pipe
and the purified water pipe pass through a hinge device of the door, it is difficult
to arrange and connect the pipes. Also, since a plurality of pipes pass through the
hinge device, an inner diameter of the hinge device is increased, and thus durability
of a door side connection portion is lowered.
[0010] Also, due to an addition of a water purifying function, the storage space of the
food may be reduced, and it is difficult to install a configuration for the water
purifying function and to connect a pipe through which the purified water flows.
[0011] The present invention is disclosed in the independent claims 1 and 14. Further embodiments
are disclosed in the dependent claims.
[0012] Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings
in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a state in which a door of the refrigerator is
opened;
FIG. 3 is a front view of a refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator;
FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating an arrangement structure of a water supply
path of the refrigerator;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an inside of the refrigerator compartment;
FIG. 6 is a see-through view of a cabinet in which a tube guide is installed according
to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the tube
guide;
FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating an inside of the refrigerator compartment;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tube guide when being seen from one direction;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tube guide when being seen from another direction;
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an installation structure of
a drawer assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the drawer assembly;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the drawer assembly when being seen from a rear;
FIG. 14 is a partial front view of the refrigerator compartment in which the drawer
assembly is separated;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15' of FIG. 3;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a main water tank and
a valve cover are coupled according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which the main water tank
and the valve cover are coupled when being seen from a rear;
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the main water tank and the valve cover;
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the main water tank
and the valve cover are installed;
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the main water tank;
FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of the main water tank;
FIG. 22 is a front view illustrating the state in which a main water tank and a valve
cover are coupled according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 23-23' of FIG. 22;
FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an installation structure of the main
water tank according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 25 is a partial perspective view of the door at which a dispenser is installed
according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which a dispenser
tray is separated from the dispenser;
FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the dispenser tray is
inserted and withdrawn;
FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 28-28' of FIG. 27;
FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which a cover plate
is separated from a refrigerator compartment door;
FIG. 30 is a perspective view illustrating a rear surface of the cover plate;
FIG. 31 is a view illustrating an internal structure of a door recessed portion according
to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a tube reel according to
the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 33 is a view illustrating a structure of a second branch valve according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 34 is a view schematically illustrating a connection state of a water supply
path of the refrigerator;
FIG. 35 is a view schematically illustrating the connection state of the water supply
path in the refrigerator compartment;
FIG. 36 is a view schematically illustrating the connection state of the water supply
path in the door recessed portion;
FIG. 37 is a view illustrating a state of a display and a front plate of the dispenser;
FIG. 38 is a view sequentially illustrating an operation when cold water is dispensed
through the dispenser;
FIG. 39 is a view sequentially illustrating an operation when ice cubes are dispensed
through the dispenser;
FIG. 40 is a view sequentially illustrating an operation when ice pieces are dispensed
through the dispenser; and
FIGS. 41 and 42 are views sequentially illustrating an operation when purified water
is dispensed through the dispenser.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a state in which a door of the refrigerator
is opened, and FIG. 3 is a front view of a refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an external appearance of a refrigerator 1 according to
an embodiment of the present invention is formed by a cabinet 100 which forms a storage
space and a door 20 which opens and closes the storage space.
[0015] The cabinet 100 includes an outer case 101 which forms an outer side surface and
is formed of a metallic material, and an inner case 102 which is coupled to the outer
case 101, forms a storage space inside the refrigerator 1, and is formed of a resin.
And an insulator 103 fills between the outer case 101 and the inner case 102 so as
to insulate the storage space.
[0016] The storage space is divided vertically based on a barrier 11, and includes a refrigerator
compartment 12 which is provided at an upper side, and a freezer compartment 13 which
is provided at a lower side. And the freezer compartment 13 may be further divided
horizontally.
[0017] The door 20 may include a refrigerator compartment door 21 and a freezer compartment
door 22 which separately open and close the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer
compartment 13, respectively.
[0018] All of the refrigerator compartment door 21 and the freezer compartment door 22 open
and close the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 13 in a rotation
manner. To this end, each of the refrigerator compartment door 21 and the freezer
compartment door 22 is rotatably connected to the cabinet 100 by a hinge device 23.
And the refrigerator compartment door 21 is a French type door in which one pair of
doors are provided at both of left and right sides to be independently rotated.
[0019] A dispenser 70 and an ice maker 251 are provided at one of the pair of refrigerator
compartment doors 21.
[0020] The dispenser 70 is provided at a front surface of the refrigerator compartment door
21 so as to dispense one or more of water and ice by a user's operation. And an ice
making chamber 25 is provided above the dispenser 70. The ice making chamber 25 is
an insulated space in which the ice is made and stored, and the ice maker 251 is accommodated,
and which may be closed and opened by a separate door. And although not illustrated,
the ice making chamber 25 is in communication with the freezer compartment 13 through
a cooling air duct while the refrigerator compartment door 21 is closed, and thus
cooling air necessary to make the ice may be supplied from a freezer compartment evaporator
(not shown).
[0021] And a door recessed portion 26 which will be described below in detail is formed
at a lower portion of the refrigerator compartment door 21. The door recessed portion
26 may be shielded by a cover plate 27. The cover plate 27 forms a part of a rear
surface of the refrigerator compartment door 21, and if necessary, a basket or the
like may be installed thereat.
[0022] Meanwhile, a plurality of shelves and drawers for accommodating food may be provided
inside the refrigerator compartment 12. In particular, a drawer assembly 14 is provided
on a bottom surface of the refrigerator compartment 12. The drawer assembly 14 includes
a drawer 141 which is provided to be inserted into and withdrawn from an inside of
the refrigerator compartment 12, and a table 142 which shields an upper surface of
the drawer 141.
[0023] The drawer assembly 14 may be formed to be seen through, and may be formed so that
at least a part of a main water tank 60 (referring to FIG. 4) provided at a rear side
of the refrigerator compartment 12 is seen through a cooling air flowing hole 413a
when being seen from a front.
[0024] And a water purifying device 40 for purifying supplied water may be provided at a
lateral side of the drawer assembly 14, and a front surface of the water purifying
device 40 may be shielded by the drawer assembly 14.
[0025] And the plurality of shelves each of which has a cantilever structure may be separably
provided above the drawer assembly 14 so that each height thereof is adjustable.
[0026] Also, a main duct 15 is provided at a rear surface of the refrigerator compartment
12, and the cooling air generated by a refrigerator compartment evaporator 130 may
be supplied to the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12 through a plurality of
discharge holes formed at the main duct 15.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating an arrangement structure of a water supply
path of the refrigerator.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, in the refrigerator 1, the water supplied from an external
water source may be purified or cooled, and then is dispensed from the dispenser 70.
The refrigerator 1 includes a water supply path through which the purified water is
supplied to the dispenser 70 or the ice maker 251.
[0029] And the water supply path may include a water supply pipe 31, a purified water pipe
32, a main cold water pipe 33, a sub-cold water pipe 34 and a water discharge pipe
35.
[0030] The water supply pipe 31 is directly connected to a water source 2 like a spigot
located outside the refrigerator 1, and connected to an inlet port of the water purifying
device 40 inside the refrigerator 1. The water supply pipe 31 serves to supply the
water of the water source 2 to the inside of the refrigerator 1, and may be inserted
into an internal space of the refrigerator 1 through a tube guide 50 installed inside
the cabinet 100, or may be withdrawn to an external space of the refrigerator 1.
[0031] A water supply valve 311 and a flow sensor 312 may be provided at the water supply
pipe 31. The water supply valve 311 may be provided at a rear surface of the cabinet
100 or a machinery chamber in which a compressor or the like is provided. The water
supply valve 311 may open and close the water supply pipe 31 so that the water of
the water source 2 is selectively supplied to the refrigerator 1.
[0032] And the flow sensor 312 is provided at the water supply pipe 31 between the water
supply valve 311 and the water purifying device 40, and may measure a flow rate of
the water supplied through the water supply pipe 31. Of course, if necessary, the
flow sensor 312 may be integrally formed with the water supply valve 311.
[0033] The purified water pipe 32 connects an outlet port of the water purifying device
40 with the main water tank 60, a first branch valve 326, a second branch valve 328,
the ice maker 251 and the dispenser 70, and thus the water purified in the water purifying
device 40 is finally supplied to the ice maker 251 or the dispenser 70.
[0034] Since the ice maker 251 is formed so that the purified water of the cooled water
and the purified water is supplied thereto, it is possible to make the ice having
higher quality than that of the ice made of the cooled water.
[0035] The purified water pipe 32 may include a water inlet part 321, a connection part
322, a water outlet part 323 and an ice making path 324.
[0036] The water inlet part 321 connects the water purifying device 40 with the first branch
valve 326 so that the water purified in the water purifying device 40 is supplied.
And the connection part 322 connects an outlet port of the first branch valve 326
with an inlet port of the second branch valve 328 inside the refrigerator compartment
door 21 so that the purified water or the cold water is selectively supplied to the
refrigerator compartment door 21 through a single pipe according to switching of the
first branch valve 326.
[0037] Specifically, the connection part 322 passes through the hinge device 23 which rotatably
connects the refrigerator compartment door 21 with the cabinet 100, and may be guided
to the inside the refrigerator compartment door 21. At this point, the connection
part 322 introduced through the hinge device 23 is a single pipe through which the
purified water and the cold water may selectively flow. Also, an electric wire for
driving the dispenser 70, the ice maker 251, the second branch valve 328 and a dispensing
valve 351 which are provided at the refrigerator compartment door 21 may be inserted
and withdrawn through the hinge device 23.
[0038] And the connection part 322 may be guided to an outside of the refrigerator compartment
12 through the tube guide 50, and may extend toward the hinge device 23 along outer
rear and upper surfaces of the cabinet 100. At this point, at least a part of the
connection part 322 passing through an outside of the cabinet 100 may be exposed to
the outside of the cabinet 100. As another example, the connection part 322 may extend
from an inside of the cabinet 100 toward the hinge device 23.
[0039] The water outlet part 323 connects an outlet port of the second branch valve 328
with the dispenser 70, and the ice making path 324 connects the outlet port of the
second branch valve 328 with the ice maker 251. The purified water may be selectively
supplied to the ice maker 251 or the dispenser 70 according to the switching of the
second branch valve 328.
[0040] The main cold water pipe 33 is branched from the purified water pipe 32, and formed
to connect the main water tank 60 with the first branch valve 326. Therefore, the
purified water flowing through the purified water pipe 32 may be branched by a first
branch pipe 325, and may be supplied to the main water tank 60, and the cold water
stored and cooled in the main water tank 60 passes through the first branch valve
326.
[0041] Each of the main cold water pipe 33 connected to an outlet port of the main water
tank 60 and the purified water pipe 32 connected to an outlet side of the water purifying
device 40 are connected to an input side of the first branch valve 326, and one purified
water pipe 32, i.e., the connection part 322 is connected to an output side of the
first branch valve 326. Therefore, according to the switching of the first branch
valve 326, the purified water passed through the water purifying device 40 may flow
through the connection part 322, or the cold water discharged from the main water
tank 60 may flow therethrough.
[0042] In the embodiment of the present invention, for convenience of explanation, the connection
part 322 is defined as a part of the purified water pipe 32. However, since both of
the purified water and the cold water may be supplied through the connection part
322, the connection part 322 may be referred to as a separate common pipe.
[0043] The sub-cold water pipe 34 is branched from the purified water pipe 32 by a second
branch pipe 327 inside the refrigerator compartment door 21, and connected to an inlet
port of a sub-water tank 80. And the sub-cold water pipe 34 may further extend from
an outlet port of the sub-water tank 80 to a third branch pipe 329.
[0044] Meanwhile, the water discharge pipe 35 is exposed from one side of the third branch
pipe 329 to an outside of the dispenser 70, and the purified water or the cold water
may be dispensed therethrough when the dispenser 70 is operated. The dispensing valve
351 may be provided at the water discharge pipe 35, and supplying of the cold water
through the dispenser 70 starts by the dispensing valve 351.
[0045] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the inside of the refrigerator compartment,
and FIG. 6 is a see-through view of the cabinet in which the tube guide is installed
according to the embodiment of the present invention. And FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective
view illustrating a coupling structure of the tube guide, and FIG. 8 is a partial
perspective view illustrating the inside of the refrigerator compartment.
[0046] As illustrated in the drawings, an inner surface of the refrigerator compartment
12 is formed by the inner case 102, and the water purifying device 40, the main water
tank 60, the first branch valve 326 and a valve cover 55 may be provided inside the
refrigerator compartment 12.
[0047] To supply the water to the water purifying device 40, the main water tank 60 and
the first branch valve 326, the water supply path has to be insertable into an inside
of the inner case 102, and also the electric wire for driving the first branch valve
326 has to be insertable into the inside of the inner case 102.
[0048] To this end, a tube hole 102a and an electric wire hole 102b are formed at one side
surface of the inner case 102. The tube hole 102a and the electric wire hole 102b
may be formed at a second half of the refrigerator compartment 12 close to an installation
position of the first branch valve 326 so as to allow an easy access of the water
supply path and the electric wires. And the tube guide 50 may be installed at an outer
surface of the inner case 102 corresponding to the tube hole 102a and the electric
wire hole 102b.
[0049] The tube guide 50 is installed and fixed to an outer wall surface of the inner case
102, and when the tube guide 50 is installed, the tube hole 102a and the electric
wire hole 102b are located at positions corresponding to an inlet port 531 of a tube
guiding portion 53 and a connector installation part 54 formed at the tube guide 50.
[0050] The tube guide 50 may be disposed at a lower portion and the second half of the refrigerator
compartment 12 while being installed at the inner case 102. That is, due to a characteristic
of installation positions of the water purifying device 40, the main water tank 60
and the first branch valve 326, the tube guide 50 may be located at a lower half and
a second half of a side wall surface of the refrigerator compartment 12 closed to
them.
[0051] Meanwhile, a guide installation groove (or hole) 511 corresponding to a guide installation
protrusion 102c protruding to an outside of the inner case 102 is formed at the tube
guide 50. Therefore, the tube guide 50 may be installed at an exact position of the
inner case 102 by matching the guide installation protrusion 102c with the guide installation
groove 511.
[0052] When the insulator 103 fills the inside of the cabinet 100 while the tube guide 50
is attached to the outer surface of the inner case 102, the tube guide 50 is in close
contact with the inner case 102, and thus the insulator 103 is prevented from being
introduced into the tube hole 102a or the electric wire hole 102b.
[0053] And while the tube guide 50 is installed at the inner case 102, the tube guide 50
is also in contact with the rear surface of the cabinet 100, i.e., a rear surface
of the outer case 101, and the water supply path which is inserted and withdrawn through
the tube guide 50 may pass through the side surface of the inner case 102, and may
pass through the rear surface of the cabinet 100.
[0054] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tube guide when being seen from one direction.
And FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tube guide when being seen from another direction.
[0055] As illustrated in the drawings, the tube guide 50 may include a side surface 51 which
is in contact with the inner case 102, and a rear surface 52 which is in contact with
the outer case 101.
[0056] The side surface 51 and the rear surface 52 are formed in plate shapes which are
perpendicular to each other, and may be formed to be in close contact with one surface
of the inner case 102 forming a side wall surface of the refrigerator compartment
12 and the rear surface of the outer case 101 forming the rear surface of the cabinet
100, respectively.
[0057] The tube guiding portion 53 is further formed at the tube guide 50. The tube guiding
portion 53 serves to guide the water supply path, which is inserted and withdrawn
from the refrigerator compartment 12, at the inside of the refrigerator compartment
12, and may connect the side surface 51 with the rear surface 52.
[0058] The water supply path may bypass an area in which the refrigerator compartment evaporator
130 is accommodated by the tube guiding portion 53. That is, the water supply path
may be inserted and withdrawn at a side of the refrigerator compartment 12 through
the rear surface of the cabinet 100 without interference with the refrigerator compartment
evaporator 130 provided at the second half of the refrigerator compartment 12.
[0059] And the inlet port 531 and an outlet port 532 which are opened at both ends of the
tube guiding portion 53 may be exposed to the side surface 51 and the rear surface
52, respectively, and may be in communication with openings of the inner case 102
and the outer case 101, respectively.
[0060] That is, the water supply paths which are respectively connected to the main water
tank 60, the water purifying device 40 and the first branch valve 326 may be inserted
from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12 toward the inlet port 531 of the
tube guiding portion 53, and then may be withdrawn through the rear surface of the
cabinet 100.
[0061] Therefore, a connecting operation of the water supply path may be performed at the
inside the refrigerator compartment 12, and the water purifying device 40, the main
water tank 60 and the first branch valve 326 which are connected to the water supply
paths are installed at the refrigerator compartment 12, and the water supply paths
may be withdrawn to an outside through the tube guide 50, and thus the connection
operation of the water supply path may be completed without a separate operation at
the outside of the cabinet 100.
[0062] Meanwhile, the tube guiding portion 53 may be rounded with a predetermined curvature.
Therefore, the water supply path inserted from the inside of the refrigerator compartment
12 may be naturally moved along the curvature of the tube guiding portion 53 to a
rear side of the cabinet 100.
[0063] The connector installation part 54 is formed at a front side of the tube guiding
portion 53. The connector installation part 54 to which the electric wire connected
to the first branch valve 326 is connected may form a recessed space having a size
corresponding to that of the electric wire hole 102b.
[0064] And a connector fixing opening 541 is formed at a recessed upper surface of the connector
installation part 54. Therefore, a connector 542 which is provided at an end of the
electric wire connected to a control part 3 may be installed and fixed to the connector
fixing opening 541. Therefore, an electric wire connector connected to the first branch
valve 326 may be connected to the connector 542 at an inside of the connector installation
part 54.
[0065] That is, when the first branch valve 326 is assembled, the connector 542 fixed to
the connector fixing opening 541 may be exposed through the electric wire hole 102b
in a state in which the tube guide 50 is installed, and the electric wire connector
is coupled to the connector 542, and thus the first branch valve 326 may be electrically
connected to the control part 3.
[0066] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an installation structure of
the drawer assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12
is an exploded perspective view of the drawer assembly, and FIG. 13 is a perspective
view of the drawer assembly when being seen from a rear.
[0067] As illustrated in the drawings, the drawer assembly 14 may be seated on the bottom
surface of the refrigerator compartment 12. While the drawer assembly 14 is installed
at the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12, spaces in which the main water tank
60 and the water purifying device 40 are respectively installed may be formed at a
rear side and a lateral side of the drawer assembly 14.
[0068] Therefore, when the drawer assembly 14 is installed, the drawer assembly 14 shields
the main water tank 60 at a front side thereof, and the water purifying device 40
may also be shielded by a front surface of the drawer 141 forming the drawer assembly
14.
[0069] Meanwhile, the drawer assembly 14 may include the table 142 and the drawer 141. The
table 142 is disposed at a position which is spaced apart from the bottom of the refrigerator
compartment 12, vertically divides the refrigerator compartment 12, and thus forms
a space, in which the drawer 141 is disposed, at a lower side of the table 142.
[0070] And the table 142 may serve as a shelf in a state in which the drawer assembly 14
is installed, and may cover an upper side of the drawer 141 which is provided to be
inserted and withdrawn.
[0071] Meanwhile, a side plate 143 which extends downward and supports both side surfaces
of the drawer 141 may be formed at a lower surface of the table 142. The side plate
143 forms a space in which the drawer 141 is accommodated. And a drawer rail 412 which
guides inserting and withdrawing of the drawer 141 may be provided at the side plate
143.
[0072] And a bottom plate 147 may be further provided at a lower end of the side plate 143.
The bottom plate 147 forms a bottom surface of the drawer assembly 14, and is in contact
with a lower surface of the refrigerator compartment 12.
[0073] The drawer 141 may be accommodated at an inside of a space formed by the table 142,
the side plate 143 and the bottom plate 147.
[0074] For example, two drawers 141 are disposed at both of left and right sides, and front
surfaces of the two drawers 141 may be formed to have the same size and shape when
being seen from a front.
[0075] The drawer 141 may include an accommodation part 144 which are opened upward, and
forms an accommodation space, and a front surface part 145 which forms a front surface
of the accommodation part 144, i.e., the front surface of the drawer 141. And a roller
141a may be provided at a rear end of each of both side surfaces of the drawer 141.
The roller 141a is rotatably accommodated inside the drawer rail 412, and enables
the drawer 141 to be smoothly inserted and withdrawn.
[0076] The drawer 141 may be formed of a plastic material which is seen through, and thus
the food accommodated therein may be recognized. Of course, the table 142 may also
be formed of a transparent material so that the inside of the drawer 141 is checked
through the table 142 without opening of the drawer 141.
[0077] Meanwhile, of the drawers 141 provided at both of the left and right sides, one drawer
141 close to the water purifying device 40 may be formed smaller than the other drawer
141. That is, the drawer 141 close to the water purifying device 40 is formed so that
a width and a length of the accommodation part 144 are smaller, and thus the space
in which the water purifying device 40 and the main water tank 60 are installed may
be ensured. However, since the size and the shape of the front surface part 145 of
each of the drawers 141 are the same as each other, the both of the left and right
drawers 141 may be seen as having the same size.
[0078] Therefore, the front surface part 145 of the drawer 141 close to the water purifying
device 40 may include a shielding part 146 which further extends toward a lateral
side of the accommodation part 144, and the shielding part 146 protrudes laterally
from a front end of the drawer 141. And while the drawer 141 is closed, the shielding
part 146 may shield the water purifying device 40 from a front side thereof.
[0079] While the drawer 141 is closed, the water purifying device 40 may not be exposed
to an outside, and thus the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12 may look like
a neat state. Of course, since the shielding part 146 covers the water purifying device
40, a malfunction of the water purifying device 40 may also be prevented from occurring
due to a user's careless operation.
[0080] The water purifying device 40 may be provided at a lateral side of the drawer 141.
The water purifying device 40 may be accommodated between the table 142 and the bottom
plate 147.
[0081] The water purifying device 40 may include a plurality of filters 42 which purify
the supplied water, a case 41 in which the plurality of filters 42 are accommodated,
and a case cover 43 which shields a front surface of the case 41.
[0082] Specifically, the plurality of filters 42 may be installed at the case 41, and may
be disposed vertically. As the plurality of filters 42 are vertically stacked, a space
of the refrigerator compartment 12 may be efficiently used. And even when a leakage
occurs at the water purifying device 40, only a narrow area of the inside of the refrigerator
compartment 12 is contaminated, and thus the space may be efficiently and safely configured.
[0083] The plurality of filters 42 may be connected by a head unit 44 provided inside the
case 41, and the plurality of filters 42 may be disposed in parallel by coupling between
the plurality of filters 42 and the head unit 44.
[0084] In the embodiment of the present invention, for example, the number of the plurality
of filters 42 may be three. For example, the plurality of filters 42 may include a
pre-carbon filter which is connected to a water inlet side of the head unit 44, a
post-carbon filter which is connected to a water outlet side of the head unit 44,
and a membrane filter which is disposed between the pre-carbon filter and the post-carbon
filter, and thus may purify the water passing through the water purifying device 40.
Of course, the number and the type of the filters 42 are not limited. However, the
number of filters which can be accommodated in the water purifying device 40 and different
types of functional filters for effectively purifying the water may be applied.
[0085] Meanwhile, the case 41 is formed to have a size which forms one side surface of the
drawer assembly 14, but formed slightly smaller than a forward and backward directional
width of the table 142, and formed so that the space in which the main water tank
60 and the first branch valve 326 are accommodated is provided at a rear of the water
purifying device 40.
[0086] A plurality of filter insertion holes 411 in which the plurality of filters 42 are
respectively inserted are formed at the front surface of the case 41. Each of the
plurality of filter insertion holes 411 may be formed corresponding to a cross-sectional
size of each of the filters 42, and may be formed so that the filters 42 are inserted
from a front.
[0087] And according to an arrangement structure of the plurality of filters 42, the plurality
of filter insertion holes 411 may also be vertically disposed.
[0088] And a filter guide 414 which guides movement of the filter 42 when the filter 42
is inserted and enables the filter 42 to be connected to the head unit 44 may be further
formed at an inner surface of the case 41. The filter guide 414 may extend in an insertion
direction of the filter 42, and may protrude from the inner surface of the case 41
or may be recessed inward from an outer surface of the case 41.
[0089] And the drawer rail 412 may be further formed at the outer surface of the case 41.
The drawer rail 412 serves to accommodate the roller 141a installed at one of both
side surfaces of the drawer 141, and enables the roller 141a to be rotated when the
drawer 141 is inserted and withdrawn.
[0090] Like this, the case 41 of the water purifying device 40 supports the drawer 141 and
also forms the side surface of the drawer assembly 14, and thus may be referred to
as an element corresponding to the side plate 143.
[0091] Meanwhile, a shielding plate 413 which is formed to extend laterally may be provided
at a rear end of the case 41. The shielding plate 413 may shield a rear space of the
drawer 141, and may enable a complicated piping state connected to the main water
tank 60 provided at a rear of the drawer 141 and other attached structures not to
be exposed.
[0092] And the cooling air flowing hole 413a is formed at the shielding plate 413 so that
the cooling air located at a side of the drawer 141 flows to the rear of the drawer
141. At this point, the cooling air flowing hole 413a may be located at a front of
the main water tank 60, and thus the cooling air passing through the cooling air flowing
hole 413a may be collected to a side of the refrigerator compartment evaporator 130
while passing through the main water tank 60.
[0093] Specifically, the cooling air flowing hole 413a, the main water tank 60 and a cooling
air hole 121 of a grill pan 120 are arranged forward and backward, and the cooling
air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12 flows from a lower portion
of the refrigerator compartment 12 to the cooling air flowing hole 413a, the main
water tank 60 and the cooling air hole 121 in turn. Therefore, the cooling air may
be smoothly circulated in the refrigerator compartment 12, and cooling efficiency
of the main water tank 60 may be enhanced. And due to a structural characteristic
of the main water tank 60 formed in a cylindrical shape, the cooling air may flow
toward the cooling air hole 121 along a circumference of the main water tank 60.
[0094] And by the cooling air flowing hole 413a, a user may check the main water tank 60
from an outside through the drawer 141, and since the main water tank 60 formed of
stainless steel is visually exposed, the user may intuitionally recognize a function
of the cold water.
[0095] Meanwhile, if necessary, the shielding plate 413 may not be integrally formed with
the case 41 of the water purifying device 40, but may be coupled to another element
of the drawer assembly 14, or may be independently installed at a rear space of the
drawer 141.
[0096] The case cover 43 may be separably provided at the front surface of the case 41.
The case cover 43 may shield the entire filter insertion hole 411 while being installed
at the case 41, and forms an exterior of the front surface of the water purifying
device 40. And the case cover 43 may be in contact with a rear surface of the shielding
part 146 of the drawer 141 while being installed at the case 41, and may prevent movement
of the drawer 141.
[0097] While the case cover 43 is separated from the case 41, the filter 42 may be separated
or installed. At this point, to separate or install the filter 42, the drawer 141
may be first withdrawn. While the drawer 141 is withdrawn, the case cover 43 may be
separated from the case 41. When a withdrawn distance of the drawer 141 is longer
than a length of the filter 42, the filter 42 may be separated from the case 41 through
a lateral space of the drawer 141. At this point, to smoothly separate the filter
42, the withdrawn distance of the drawer 141 should be set longer than the length
of the filter 42.
[0098] FIG. 14 is a partial front view of the refrigerator compartment in which the drawer
assembly is separated, and FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15'
of FIG. 3.
[0099] As illustrated in the drawings, the water purifying device 40 becomes in close contact
with one side wall surface of the refrigerator compartment 12, and the main water
tank 60 and the first branch valve 326 are disposed to be in close contact with the
grill pan 120. And the water purifying device 40 and the main water tank 60 are disposed
such that ends thereof are close to each other and also perpendicular to each other.
That is, the water purifying device 40 and the main water tank 60 may be disposed
at one side corner of the second half of the refrigerator compartment 12.
[0100] And the first branch valve 326 and the valve cover 55 which accommodates the first
branch valve 326 are disposed at a space located at the rear of the water purifying
device 40 and an upper side of the main water tank 60. Such an arrangement structure
relates to a position of the tube guide 50 for an access of the water supply path
and the electric wire to an inside of the refrigerator. The water purifying device
40, the main water tank 60 and the first branch valve 326 are disposed at a position
close to a side surface at which the tube guide 50 is located, and thus an arrangement
of the water supply path may be facilitated, and connecting and assembling of the
path may also be facilitated.
[0101] Meanwhile, an internal space of the refrigerator compartment 12 may be divided by
installing the drawer assembly 14. Specifically, based on the drawer 141 close to
the water purifying device 40, a first space 122 at which the water purifying device
40 is installed is formed at one lateral side of the drawer 141, and a second space
123 is formed at the rear of the drawer 141 when the drawer assembly 14 is installed.
[0102] Specifically, the first space 122 may be a space between the case 41 and a side wall
of the refrigerator compartment 12, and the case 41 may have horizontal and vertical
widths corresponding to those of the first space 122. And the second space 123 is
a space among the drawer 141, a rear of the first space 122 and the grill pan 120,
and the main water tank 60 may be provided at the second space 123. The first branch
valve 326 and the valve cover 55 may be located at the rear of the first space 122.
[0103] That is, by installing the drawer assembly 14, predetermined spaces (the first space
and the second space) are defined in the refrigerator compartment 12, and the water
purifying device 40, the main water tank 60 and the first branch valve 326 are disposed
in the predetermined spaces, and also the water supply paths connecting them may also
be disposed therein.
[0104] In addition, the first branch valve 326 and the main water tank 60 may be installed
before installing the drawer assembly 14. At this point, the water supply paths may
be withdrawn from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12 to the outside of
the cabinet 100 through the tube guide 50.
[0105] Therefore, while all of the water purifying device 40, the first branch valve 326
and the main water tank 60 are connected by the water supply paths, the water supply
paths may be withdrawn to the outside through the tube guide 50, and thus an additional
connection operation in the refrigerator compartment 12 is not required, and assemblability
may be considerably enhanced.
[0106] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the main water tank and
the valve cover are coupled according to the embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which the main water tank
and the valve cover are coupled when being seen from a rear, FIG. 18 is an exploded
perspective view of the main water tank and the valve cover, and FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional
view illustrating a state in which the main water tank and the valve cover are installed.
[0107] As illustrated in the drawings, the valve cover 55 is installed and fixed to an inner
wall surface of the refrigerator compartment 12, and the first branch valve 326 is
accommodated in the valve cover 55. And the main water tank 60 may be installed at
one side of the valve cover 55.
[0108] Specifically, the valve cover 55 accommodates the first branch valve 326 therein,
guides the water supply paths introduced into the refrigerator compartment 12, and
enables the main water tank 60 to be fixed.
[0109] The valve cover 55 may include a valve accommodation part 551 in which the first
branch valve 326 is accommodated, and a cover extension part 552 at which the main
water tank 60 is installed.
[0110] The valve accommodation part 551 has a predetermined space to accommodate the first
branch valve 326, and is in close contact with the side wall surface of the refrigerator
compartment 12. At this point, a position of the valve accommodation part 551 may
correspond to a position of the tube guide 50, and the electric wire hole 102b and
the tube hole 102a may be located inside an opened surface of the valve accommodation
part 551. Therefore, the electric wire connected to the first branch valve 326 and
the connection part 322 of the purified water pipe 32 connected to the outlet port
of the first branch valve 326 may have access to the valve accommodation part 551.
[0111] Meanwhile, a cover fixing piece 553 protrudes downward from a lower end of an opened
end of the valve accommodation part 551, and a first cover fixing part 558 extends
upward from an upper end thereof. The cover fixing piece 553 is inserted into a cover
fixing groove 102d which is formed at one side of the inner case 102 or the valve
cover 55 to have a corresponding shape, and provisionally fixes the valve cover 55.
And while the valve cover 55 is provisionally fixed, a screw passing through the inner
case 102 and the tube guide 50 is fastened to the first cover fixing part 558, and
thus the valve cover 55 may be fixed.
[0112] Meanwhile, the cover extension part 552 extends from the valve accommodation part
551 in a direction that intersects with the valve accommodation part 551. The cover
extension part 552 is also formed so that one surface thereof is opened, and the opened
surface is in close contact with the grill pan 120 corresponding to the rear surface
of the refrigerator compartment 12. Therefore, the valve cover 55 may be in close
contact with a corner formed by the side wall of the refrigerator compartment 12 and
the grill pan 120.
[0113] The cover extension part 552 extends in a predetermined length, and a second cover
fixing part 554 which extends upward is formed at an upper end of the cover extension
part 552. A screw passing through the second cover fixing part 554 and the grill pan
120 is fastened to the second cover fixing part 554, and thus the valve cover 55 may
be in close contact with the grill pan 120.
[0114] Meanwhile, a cover hole 555 may be formed at a side surface of the cover extension
part 552 and a dividing plate of the cover extension part 552. The water supply paths,
more specifically, the water supply pipe 31, the main cold water pipe 33 and the water
inlet part 321 of the purified water pipe 32 may have access through the cover hole
555. And a support part 556 which supports the water supply path may be formed inside
the cover extension part 552, and the water supply path may be prevented from sagging
or being twisted, and may be maintained in an arranged state.
[0115] And a water tank installation part 557 which extends downward is provided at a lower
end of the cover extension part 552. The water tank installation part 557 may be formed
to extend downward and to cover a circumferential surface of the main water tank 60.
Therefore, the main water tank 60 may be seated on the water tank installation part
557. While the main water tank 60 is seated on the water tank installation part 557,
the main water tank 60 is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the refrigerator
compartment 12, and thus the air may smoothly flow.
[0116] The main water tank 60 installed at the valve cover 55 may be fixed to a position
close to the grill pan 120 by the water tank installation part 557 and a tank fixing
part 612 provided at the main water tank 60. For example, the first space 122 may
be disposed to be overlapped with a space, at which the refrigerator compartment evaporator
130 is located, in a forward and backward direction.
[0117] And since the refrigerator compartment evaporator 130 for cooling the refrigerator
compartment 12 is provided at a rear of the grill pan 120, the main water tank 60
located at a position close to the refrigerator compartment evaporator 130 may be
directly cooled. At the same time, the main water tank 60 is located at a front of
the cooling air hole 121 formed at the grill pan 120, and thus indirectly cooled by
a flow of the cooling air collected through the cooling air hole 121. In particular,
the main water tank 60 is formed of a stainless steel material, and thus may be effectively
cooled.
[0118] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the main water tank, and FIG. 21 is an exploded
perspective view of the main water tank.
[0119] As illustrated in the drawings, both ends of the main water tank 60 are generally
formed in hemispheric shapes. And the main water tank 60 may be formed of the stainless
steel material which is harmless to a human body, prevents rust or corrosion, and
has excellent cooling efficiency.
[0120] Specifically, the main water tank 60 may include a cylindrical tank body 61 of which
both ends are opened, and a plurality of hemispheric tank caps 62 which shield openings
of the tank body 61. And a water outlet pipe 64 is connected to the tank body 61,
and a water inlet pipe 63 is connected to one of the plurality of tank caps 62, and
thus the purified water may be supplied, and also the cold water may be discharged.
[0121] Meanwhile, a sheet formed of the stainless steel material is bent so that both ends
are in contact with each other, and thus the tank body 61 is formed in the cylindrical
shape, and the ends which are in contact with each other are bonded by welding. And
the water outlet pipe 64 which is in communication with an inside of the tank body
61 is bonded by the welding.
[0122] At this point, the water outlet pipe 64 is located at an upper end of the tank body
61, and does not protrude to the inside of the tank body 61, but extends upward. Therefore,
an inside of the main water tank 60 may be fully filled with the water, and in this
state, the water may be discharged through the water outlet pipe 64. This means that
the water in the main water tank 60 may be sufficiently cooled. In addition, since
the water outlet pipe 64 is located at the upper end of the tank body 61, when the
air fills the main water tank 60, the air may be first discharged through the water
outlet pipe 64, and thus the water may be prevented from being discharged with the
air.
[0123] And the tank body 61 is processed by electrolytic polishing while the water outlet
pipe 64 is bonded, and moss or foreign substances may be prevented from being attached
on an inner surface of the main water tank 60, and a surface thereof may be smoothed,
and thus a cleaning operation may be smoothly performed when a cleaning solution is
injected.
[0124] Each of the plurality of tank caps 62 is formed in the hemispheric shape by machining
a circular plate formed of the stainless steel material in a press working, and may
be formed to have a size which shields the opened surface of the tank body 61.
[0125] The plurality of tank caps 62 are provided at both of left and right sides of the
tank body 61, and the water inlet pipe 63 is bonded to a center of one of the tank
caps 62. The water inlet pipe 63 is bonded by the welding, and extends laterally.
And the water inlet pipe 63 may also be bonded so as not to protrude to the inside
of the main water tank 60.
[0126] And each of the tank caps 62 may also be processed by the electrolytic polishing
while the water inlet pipe 63 is bonded, and the moss or the foreign substances may
be prevented from being attached on the inner surface of the main water tank 60, and
a surface thereof may be smoothed, and thus the cleaning operation may be smoothly
performed when the cleaning solution is injected.
[0127] That is, in a state in which the water outlet pipe 64 is bonded to the tank body
61, and the water inlet pipe 63 is bonded to the tank cap 62, the surface of each
of the tank body 61 and the tank caps 62 may be processed by the electrolytic polishing,
and then may be bonded to each other.
[0128] The tank body 61 and the tank caps 62 may be bonded to each other by curling. To
this end, an end 611 of the tank body 61 and an end 621 of each of the tank caps 62
may be bent several times to have shapes corresponding to each other, and may be in
surface contact with each other.
[0129] Also, silicone 65 is interposed between the end 611 of the tank body 61 and the end
621 of each of the tank caps 62, and seals between the tank body 61 and each of the
tank caps 62, and thus maintains a sealed state even when the curling is performed.
[0130] Due to the curling, a stepped portion is neither generated at the inside of the main
water tank 60 nor at a portion at which the tank body 61 and each of the tank caps
62 are in contact with each other, and the same plane may be provided. Also, the surface
is smoothly polished by the electrolytic polishing, and thus the foreign substances
may be prevented from being attached to the inside of the main water tank 60, and
the cleaning operation may be smoothly performed when the cleaning solution is injected.
[0131] Meanwhile, a recessed portion 622 in which a jig is inserted upon the curling of
the tank body 61 and the tank caps 62 may be formed at a circumference of each of
the tank caps 62. The recessed portion 622 may be formed along the circumference of
each of the tank caps 62, and the jig may be inserted into the recessed portion 622,
and thus each of the tank caps 62 may be rotated upon the curling.
[0132] And the tank fixing part 612 may be further provided at an upper portion of an outer
surface of the tank body 61. The tank fixing part 612 may be formed to extend to an
upper side of the tank body 61, to be bent at a predetermined angle, and to be in
contact with a front surface of the grill pan 120. Therefore, the main water tank
60 may be further fixed to the grill pan 120 by the screw which passes through and
is fastened to the tank fixing part 612 and the grill pan 120.
[0133] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 21, a position of the water outlet pipe 64 may
be disposed at a center portion of the main water tank 60 to be distant from the water
inlet pipe 63. Therefore, since the position of the water outlet pipe 64 is disposed
to be distant from that of the water inlet pipe 63, the input water may be sufficiently
cooled while flowing through the inside of the main water tank 60, and then may be
discharged through the water outlet pipe 64.
[0134] Meanwhile, the valve cover and the tank installation part according to the embodiment
of the present invention may have other structures.
[0135] FIG. 22 is a front view illustrating the state in which a main water tank and a valve
cover are coupled according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 23
is a cross-sectional view taken along line 23-23' of FIG. 22, and FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional
view illustrating an installation structure of the main water tank according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0136] As illustrated in the drawings, a valve cover 56 according to another embodiment
of the present invention forms a space in which the first branch valve 326 is accommodated,
and is installed and fixed to the side wall surface of the refrigerator compartment
12.
[0137] And a tank insertion hole 561 in which a part of the main water tank 60 is inserted
is formed at the valve cover 56. And a tank installation part 565 which supports the
main water tank 60 from a lower side thereof and also fixes both ends thereof is formed
at the valve cover 56.
[0138] The tank installation part 565 may include a cover extension part 552 which extends
from one side of the valve cover 56, and tank restriction parts 562 and 564 which
are inserted onto a circumference of each of the tank caps 62.
[0139] Specifically, the cover extension part 552 extends long outward from a lower end
of the tank insertion hole 561 of the valve cover 56, and extends to a position corresponding
to an end of the tank body 61. At this point, the cover extension part 552 may be
in contact with a lower surface of the tank body 61, and may support the main water
tank 60.
[0140] The tank restriction parts 562 and 564 may include a first restriction part 562 which
is provided inside the valve cover 55, and a second restriction part 564 which is
provided at an end of the cover extension part 552, and thus may fix the main water
tank 60 from both sides thereof.
[0141] Specifically, a plurality of first restriction parts 562 are disposed radially based
on the tank insertion hole 561, extends toward an inside of the valve cover 55, and
also extends to the end of the tank body 61. And an extended end of the first restriction
part 562 may be formed in a hook shape, and may be inserted and hooked to an inside
of the recessed portion 622 of the tank cap 62.
[0142] And the second restriction part 564 may be formed at an end of the cover extension
part 552 which faces the first restriction part 562, may be formed in a hook shape
at a position corresponding to the end of the tank body 61, and may be inserted and
hooked to the inside of the recessed portion 622 of the tank cap 62. Therefore, the
tank installation part 565 may be stably fixed to the main water tank 60 by the first
restriction part 562 and the second restriction part 564.
[0143] FIG. 25 is a partial perspective view of the door at which the dispenser is installed
according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective
view illustrating a state in which a dispenser tray is separated from the dispenser,
and FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the dispenser tray
is inserted and withdrawn. And FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
28-28' of FIG. 27.
[0144] As illustrated in the drawings, the dispenser 70 is provided at the front surface
of the refrigerator compartment door 21. An exterior of the dispenser 70 may be formed
by a part or all of a dispenser case 71, a front plate 75, an operation lever 72 and
a chute cover 76.
[0145] Specifically, the dispenser case 71 may have a space which is recessed to dispense
the water or the ice, and the user may locate a container into the recessed space.
And a dispenser tray 73 is provided under the dispenser case 71. The dispenser tray
73 may support the container may support the container, and may be withdrawn to a
front of the dispenser case 71 to support a large capacity container when the purified
water is continuously dispensed.
[0146] To this end, an elastic member 713 having a hooking protrusion 714 may be installed
and fixed to a bottom surface of the dispenser case 71. And a plurality of restriction
protrusions 732 protrude downward from a bottom of the dispenser tray 73, and the
hooking protrusion 714 interferes with the restriction protrusions 732 when the dispenser
tray 73 is inserted and withdrawn, and thus the dispenser tray 73 may be withdrawn
in stages.
[0147] The operation lever 72 is provided at a rear surface of the dispenser case 71. The
operation lever 72 may be operated by the user to dispense the water or the ice through
the dispenser 70. When the operation lever 72 is pushed, the selected water or ice
is dispensed, and when the operation lever 72 is released, the operation lever 72
is returned to its original position, and thus dispensing of the water or the ice
is terminated. Through an operation of the operation lever 72, the user may dispense
a desired amount of water or ice.
[0148] And a top cover 74 is provided at an upper surface of the dispenser case 71. And
the water discharge pipe 35 or a nozzle is exposed through the top cover 74. The water
discharge pipe 35 or the nozzle extends and protrudes to a lower side of the top cover
74, and thus the user may check a water dispensing state.
[0149] And an ice chute 741 is provided at a rear of the water discharge pipe 35. The ice
chute 741 is a path through which the ice made and stored in the ice making chamber
25 is discharged, and is formed at the top cover 74 to be opened.
[0150] Also, a light emitting member 742 may be further provided at the top cover 74. The
light emitting member 742 is provided at one side close to the water discharge pipe
35 and the ice chute 741, and may emit light vertically downward. Therefore, when
the water or the ice is dispensed, a dispensing state may be recognized by the light
emitted from the light emitting member 742 even when a room is dark.
[0151] And the front plate 75 is provided at an upper portion of a front surface of the
dispenser case 71, more specifically, an upper side of the recessed space of the dispenser
case 71. The front plate 75 may shield paths, valves and a PCB which are installed
at the dispenser case 71, and may form the same plane as the front surface of the
refrigerator compartment door 21.
[0152] And a plurality of operation buttons 751 are provided at the front plate 75, and
an operation of the refrigerator 1 and the dispenser 70 may be set or operated by
operating the plurality of operation buttons 751.
[0153] Meanwhile, the chute cover 76 may be provided at a center of the front plate 75.
The chute cover 76 is located at a front of the ice chute 741 and the water discharge
pipe 35, and may shield the ice chute 741 and the water discharge pipe 35. Of course,
the chute cover 76 may not substantially shield the ice chute 741 and the water discharge
pipe 35, but may be located at the front of them.
[0154] And a display 90 may be provided at the chute cover 76. The display 90 may display
an operation state of the refrigerator 1, and particularly, may be configured with
a touchscreen which displays a set state of the dispenser 70 and is directly operated
by the user.
[0155] Since the display 90 is installed at a front surface of the chute cover 76, all of
the display 90, the operation lever 72, the ice chute 741 and the water discharge
pipe 35 may be disposed forward and backward on the same extension line. Therefore,
the elements which are required to be operated or checked by the user are disposed
on the same line, and the dispenser 70 may be very easily operated and recognized.
[0156] In particular, the display 90 is formed to indicate operation information of the
dispenser 70 and operation information of the user in the form of icons through a
screen change, and thus allows an intuitive information transmission and a user's
input through the display 90 having a small size.
[0157] FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which the cover plate
is separated from the refrigerator compartment door.
[0158] As illustrated in the drawing, the door recessed portion 26 is formed at a lower
portion of the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment door 21. The sub-water
tank 80, the second branch valve 328 and the dispensing valve 351 for supplying the
purified water and the cold water to the dispenser 70 and the ice maker 251 may be
accommodated in the door recessed portion 26.
[0159] To this end, a door liner which forms the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment
door 21 is recessed backward, and thus the door recessed portion 26 may have a predetermined
space 261. The door recessed portion 26 are located under the dispenser 70 and the
ice making chamber 25, and opened toward the inside of the refrigerator compartment
12.
[0160] A connector installation part 262 is provided inside the door recessed portion 26.
The connector installation part 262 is a portion at which a connector 265 coupled
to the electric wire connector connected to the second branch valve 328 and the dispensing
valve 351 is installed. The connector installation part 262 is disposed at a position
of an upper end of the door recessed portion 26 at which the water is not formed or
collected.
[0161] A connector hole 263 may be formed at the connector installation part 262, and the
connector 265 may be installed and fixed to the connector hole 263, and thus may be
electrically connected by simple coupling with the electric wire connector connected
to the second branch valve 328 and the dispensing valve 351.
[0162] A tube opening portion 264 is provided at one side of the door recessed portion 26.
The tube opening portion 264 is formed at one side of the door recessed portion 26
to be opened, such that the purified water pipe 32, i.e., the connection part which
extends from the refrigerator compartment 12 is introduced into the door recessed
portion 26. And the tube opening portion 264 allows an access of the purified water
pipe 32 and the water discharge pipe 35 which are directed to the ice maker 251 and
the dispenser 70.
[0163] The tube opening portion 264 may be disposed inside the door recessed portion 26
to be close to a portion which serves as a rotating shaft of the refrigerator compartment
door 21, and thus may minimize a length of the water supply path.
[0164] Meanwhile, the door recessed portion 26 may be shielded by the cover plate 27. The
cover plate 27 may be formed in a plate shape corresponding to an opening of the door
recessed portion 26, and the sub-water tank 80, the second branch valve 328 and the
dispensing valve 351 may be installed and fixed to a rear surface of the cover plate
27.
[0165] Therefore, the sub-water tank 80, the second branch valve 328 and the dispensing
valve 351 may be located inside the door recessed portion 26 by assembling the cover
plate 27 which shields the door recessed portion 26.
[0166] FIG. 30 is a perspective view illustrating the rear surface of the cover plate, FIG.
31 is a view illustrating an internal structure of the door recessed portion according
to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating
a structure of a tube reel according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0167] As illustrated in the drawings, the sub-water tank 80, the second branch valve 328
and the dispensing valve 351 may be installed at the rear surface of the cover plate
27.
[0168] The sub-water tank 80 serves to cool again the water which is cooled and supplied
from the main water tank 60. When the water cooled in the main water tank 60 passes
through the outside of the cabinet 100 while flowing through the water supply path,
a temperature thereof may be increased, and the sub-water tank 80 may cool again the
water of which the temperature is increased, and thus may enable the cold water to
be dispensed at a target cold temperature when the cold water is dispensed.
[0169] In particular, when the cold water is first dispensed in a state in which the water
is not dispensed for a long time, the temperature of the water remaining for the long
time in the water supply path outside of the refrigerator compartment 12 may be increased,
and thus may not satisfy the user. However, when the cold water is additionally cooled
in the sub-water tank 80, mixed with the cooled water, and then dispensed, the temperature
of the cold water may satisfy the user.
[0170] The sub-water tank 80 may include a tube reel 82, and a tube 81 which is wound several
times on the tube reel 82. At this time, the tube reel 82 may include a base 83 which
is fixed to the cover plate 27, a boss 84 which protrudes from a center of the base
83 and on which the tube 81 is wound, and an alignment guide 85 which extends radially
along a circumference of the boss 84 and aligns the tube 81.
[0171] A height of the boss 84, i.e., heights of the base 83 and the alignment guide 85
may be formed corresponding to a diameter of the tube 81, and thus tube 81 may be
continuously wound on the tube reel 82 in one stage, i.e., one layer.
[0172] Meanwhile, a capacity of the sub-water tank 80 may be determined by a length and
a diameter of the wound tube 81. Specifically, the sub-water tank 80 may be formed
longer than a length of the water supply path from the outlet port of the main water
tank 60 to an inlet port of the sub-water tank 80.
[0173] Therefore, since an amount of the water stored in the sub-water tank 80 is larger
than that of the water having a relatively higher temperature, the water may be mixed
when the water is dispensed from the dispenser 70, and thus the temperature of the
dispensed cold water may satisfy the user.
[0174] And when a diameter of the tube 81 of the sub-water tank 80 is different from that
of the water supply path, the capacity of the sub-water tank 80 may be determined
based on a volume. That is, the volume of the sub-water tank 80 is formed larger than
that of the water supply path which passes through the outside of the cabinet 100.
In other words, the volume of the sub-water tank 80 may be formed larger than that
of the water supply path from an outlet side of the main water tank 60 to an inlet
side of the sub-water tank 80.
[0175] Meanwhile, a base fixing part 833 and a base fastening part 832 which fix the tube
reel 82 may be provided at the base 83 of the tube reel 82. The base fixing part 833
may be matched with a protrusion of the rear surface of the cover plate 27, and the
base fastening part 832 may be fastened to the cover plate 27 by the screw.
[0176] An opening 831 corresponding to a shape of the alignment guide 85 may be formed at
the base 83. And a length of one of a plurality of alignment guides 85 may be formed
shorter than those of the remaining alignment guides 85. Therefore, the tube 81 may
be easily wound on the tube reel 82.
[0177] Meanwhile, a screw hole 722 is formed at the cover plate 27, and the cover plate
27 may be installed and fixed to the refrigerator compartment door 21 by fastening
the screw to the screw hole 722. And a plate guide 723 by which a part of the tube
81 of the sub-water tank 80 is bypassed is formed at an outside of the screw hole
722. Therefore, the screw is fastened so as to be spaced apart from a route through
which the tube 81 is wound, and thus the tube 81 of the sub-water tank 80 may be prevented
from being damaged by the screw.
[0178] And a folding prevention member 86 may be provided at one side of the tube 81 of
the sub-water tank 80. The folding prevention member 86 is formed in a tube or pipe
shape, bent with a predetermined curvature or at a predetermined angle, guides the
tube 81 of the sub-water tank 80, and prevents the tube 81 from being folded due to
an excessive curve. Also, the folding prevention member 86 may be fixed to the cover
plate 27 by the screw, and may fix the tube 81.
[0179] And the third branch pipe 329 may be connected to an outlet side of the sub-water
tank 80, and a connector fixing part 87 may be fixed to the base 83 of the tube reel
82 so as to fix the third branch pipe 329, as illustrated in FIG. 31.
[0180] Also, a connector 328a which is formed to be bent may be provided at an end of an
inlet side of the second branch valve 328, and may prevent the tube 81 from being
bent when the second branch valve 328 is connected. Of course, as illustrated in FIG.
33, an inlet part 328b of the second branch valve 328 may extend long so that the
tube 81 is connected so as not to be bent.
[0181] Hereinafter, the flow of the water supplied from the refrigerator 1 according to
the embodiment of the present invention having the above-described structure will
be described.
[0182] FIG. 34 is a view schematically illustrating a connection state of the water supply
path of the refrigerator, FIG. 35 is a view schematically illustrating the connection
state of the water supply path in the refrigerator compartment, and FIG. 36 is a view
schematically illustrating the connection state of the water supply path in the door
recessed portion.
[0183] As illustrated in the drawings, the water supplied from the water source 2 like the
spigot flows to the refrigerator 1 through the water supply pipe 31. At this point,
the supplied water passes through the water supply valve 311 and the flow sensor 312
which are provided at the water supply pipe 31. Therefore, only when the water supply
valve 311 is opened, the water may be supplied from the water source 2 to the refrigerator
1.
[0184] And a check valve 313 may be provided at the water supply pipe 31. The check valve
313 serves to prevent the water located at a side of the refrigerator1 from flowing
back and flowing toward the water source 2. This is to prevent the contaminated water
in the refrigerator 1 from flowing back and contaminating the water source 2 when
the valves provided at the water supply path is abnormally operated or is not operated
due to a breakdown.
[0185] Meanwhile, the water supply pipe 31 may be guided to the inside of the refrigerator
1 along the tube guide 50 provided at the cabinet 100, and the water supplied through
the water supply pipe 31 may be introduced into the water purifying device 40. And
the water is purified in stages while passing through the plurality of filters 42
of the water purifying device 40, and the purified water flows through the purified
water pipe 32, and is supplied to the dispenser 70 or the ice maker 251.
[0186] Specifically, the water purified in the water purifying device 40 flows along the
water inlet part 321 of the purified water pipe 32, and is branched in the first branch
pipe 325, and a portion of the water continuously flows along the water inlet part
321 to the first branch valve 326, and another portion thereof is supplied to the
main water tank 60 through the main cold water pipe 33. The purified water stored
in the main water tank 60 is cooled by the cooling air inside the refrigerator compartment
12. The water cooled in the main water tank 60 flows to the first branch valve 326
through the main cold water pipe 33.
[0187] Therefore, both of the purified water and the cold water are supplied to the first
branch valve 326, and the purified water or the cold water may flows toward the refrigerator
compartment door 21 through the connection part 322 of the purified water pipe 32
by switching of the first branch valve 326.
[0188] At this point, the connection part 322 is guided from the refrigerator compartment
12 toward the refrigerator compartment door 21 through the tube guide 50, passes through
the hinge device 23 via the outside of the cabinet 100, and then is guided to the
inside of the refrigerator compartment door 21. Alternatively, the connection part
322 may be guided between the outer case 101 and the inner case 102 toward the hinge
device 23.
[0189] And the water introduced into the refrigerator compartment door 21 through the connection
part 322 reaches the second branch pipe 327. When the water introduced into the second
branch pipe 327 is the purified water, the water flows to the water outlet part 323
of the purified water pipe 32, and when the water is the cold water, the water flows
to the sub-cold water pipe 34.
[0190] Specifically, the purified water flowing to the water outlet part 323 is branched
by the second branch valve 328 provided at the water outlet part 323. When the water
supply path is switched to the dispenser 70 by the second branch valve 328, the purified
water may be supplied to the third branch pipe 329 connected to the water discharge
pipe 35, and then may be dispensed through the dispenser 70. And when the water supply
path is switched to the ice maker 251 by the second branch valve 328, the purified
water may be supplied to the ice maker 251 through the ice making path 324 of the
purified water pipe 32.
[0191] Meanwhile, when the water introduced into the second branch pipe 327 is the cold
water, the second branch valve 328 is closed. Therefore, the cold water is supplied
to the sub-water tank 80 through the sub-cold water pipe 34, and may pass through
the third branch pipe 329 when the dispensing valve 351 is opened, and then may be
dispensed to the dispenser 70 through the water discharge pipe 35.
[0192] When the ice maker 251 starts an ice forming operation, the water supply valve 311
is opened, and the first branch valve 326 is switched to a side of the purified water,
and the second branch valve 328 is switched toward the ice maker 251, and the purified
water is supplied to the ice maker 251 so as to make the ice.
[0193] And when the user operates the dispenser 70 to dispense the cold water, the water
supply valve 311 is opened, and the first branch valve 326 is switched to a side of
the cold water, and the cold water stored in the main water tank 60 flows toward the
refrigerator compartment door 21 through the first branch valve 326. And the second
branch valve 328 is in a closed state, and the water passed through the first branch
valve 326 may be supplied to the sub-water tank 80. At this point, when the dispensing
valve 351 is opened, the cold water stored in the sub-water tank 80 may be dispensed
through the dispenser 70.
[0194] And when the user operates the dispenser 70 to dispense the purified water, the water
supply valve 311 is opened, and the first branch valve 326 is switched to the side
of the purified water, and the second branch valve 328 is switched toward the dispenser
70, and the purified water may be dispensed. And in the case in which the user sets
an amount of water to be dispensed, the set amount of water may be dispensed by the
flow sensor 312.
[0195] Hereinafter, such a user's operation of the dispenser 70 will be described in turn.
[0196] FIG. 37 is a view illustrating a state of the display and the front plate of the
dispenser, and FIG. 38 is a view sequentially illustrating an operation when cold
water is dispensed through the dispenser.
[0197] As illustrated in the drawings, while the dispenser 70 is not used, a state of the
refrigerator 1 may be displayed through the display 90, or the display 90 is in a
state of an off-screen 801 in which a back light is turned off to save electric power.
[0198] In this state, the user may push the operation buttons 751 to set the operation of
the refrigerator 1, or may operate the operation lever 72 to dispense the water or
the ice. Typically, it may be set so that the purified water is dispensed when the
operation lever 72 is operated. However, this may be reset according to the user's
taste by an operation of the operation buttons 751.
[0199] Meanwhile, when the user wants to dispense the cold water through the dispenser 70,
first, the display 90 which is in the state of the off-screen 801 may be touched.
In this case, the off-screen 801 may be switched to a screen on which a selection
input part 91 is output.
[0200] The selection input part 91 is divided into areas which select purified water 811,
cold water 812, ice cubes 813 and ice pieces 814. When the user touches the cold water
812, the screen through which the selection input part 91 is output may be switched
to a cold water confirming screen 822.
[0201] At the same time when the screen is switched to the cold water confirming screen
822, the cold water 812 may be supplied through the water discharge pipe 35 of the
dispenser 70, as described above. At this point, the amount of water to be dispensed
may be a predetermined amount which is set in advance. Alternatively, when the cold
water confirming screen 822 is pushed again, the dispensing of the cold water 812
may be stopped.
[0202] Of course, if necessary, the cold water 812 may not be dispensed at the same time
when the screen is switched to the cold water confirming screen 822, but when the
cold water confirming screen 822 is pushed again in a state of the cold water confirming
screen 822, or the operation lever 72 is operated, the cold water 812 may be dispensed.
[0203] And when a set time passed after the screen is switched to the cold water confirming
screen 822, the display 90 may be switched to the state of the off-screen 801. Of
course, the screen may be switched to a screen of the selection input part 91 for
a preset period of time, instead of being immediately switched to the state of the
off-screen 801, and then may be switched to the state of the off-screen 801.
[0204] FIG. 39 is a view sequentially illustrating an operation when the ice cubes are dispensed
through the dispenser, and FIG. 40 is a view sequentially illustrating an operation
when the ice pieces are dispensed through the dispenser.
[0205] As illustrated in the drawings, when the user wants to dispense the ice cubes 813
or the ice pieces 814 through the dispenser 70, first, the display 90 which is in
the state of the off-screen 801 is touched so that the selection input part 91 is
displayed on the display 90.
[0206] The selection input parts 81 is divided into the areas of the purified water 811,
the cold water 812, the ice cubes 813 and the ice pieces 814. When the user touches
the area of the ice cubes 813 or the ice pieces 814, the screen of the display 90
may be switched to an ice cube or ice piece confirming screen 823 or 824.
[0207] At the same time when the screen is switched to ice cube or ice piece confirming
screen 823 or 824, the ice stored in the ice making chamber 25 may be dispensed through
the ice chute 741 of the dispenser 70. At this point, an amount of the ice to be dispensed
may be a predetermined amount which is set in advance. Alternatively, when the ice
cube or ice piece confirming screen 823 or 824 is pushed again, the dispensing of
the ice cubes or ice pieces may be stopped.
[0208] Of course, if necessary, the ice cubes 813 or ice pieces 814 may not be dispensed
at the same time when the screen is switched to the ice cube or ice piece confirming
screen 823 or 824, but when the ice cube or ice piece confirming screen 823 or 824
is pushed again in a state of the ice cube or ice piece confirming screen 823 or 824,
or the operation lever 72 is operated, the ice cubes 813 or ice pieces 814 may be
dispensed.
[0209] And when a set time passed after the screen is switched to the ice cube or ice piece
confirming screen 823 or 824, the display 90 may be switched to the state of the off-screen
801. Of course, the screen may be switched to the screen of the selection input part
91 for a preset period of time, instead of being immediately switched to the state
of the off-screen 801, and then may be switched to the state of the off-screen 801.
[0210] FIG. 40 is a view sequentially illustrating an operation when the purified water
is dispensed through the dispenser, and FIGS. 41 and 42 are views sequentially illustrating
an operation when purified water is dispensed through the dispenser.
[0211] As illustrated in the drawings, when the user wants to dispense the purified water
through the dispenser 70, first, the display 90 which is in the state of the off-screen
801 is touched so that the selection input part 91 is displayed on the display 90.
[0212] The selection input part 91 is divided into the areas of the purified water 811,
the cold water 812, the ice cubes 813 and the ice pieces 814. When the user touches
the purified water 811, a dispensing amount input part 93 may be output through the
display 90. And while the dispensing amount input part 93 is selected, the user may
select a desired amount.
[0213] The dispensing amount input part 93 is divided into a returning area 831, a continuation
area 832, a first amount area 833 (of 100 ml in FIG. 41) and a second amount area
834 (of 500 ml in FIG. 41), and the dispensing amount may be set depending on a user's
selection. Of course, when the returning area 831 is touched, a previous screen may
be displayed on the display 90.
[0214] When the continuation area 832 is selected in the dispensing amount input part 93,
the screen is switched to a continuation confirming screen 841, and a start input
part 842 and a returning area 843 may be displayed on the continuation confirming
screen 841. In this state, when the start input part 842 is touched, the purified
water may be continuously dispensed through the water discharge pipe 35 of the dispenser
70.
[0215] And the screen is switched at the same time when the start input part 842 is touched,
and a purified water continuing screen 844 is output, and a stop input part 845 is
displayed. Therefore, the water may be continuously dispensed until the stop input
part 845 is input.
[0216] At this point, an amount of water to be dispensed may not exceed a set time based
on time, and when the set time passed, the dispensing is automatically terminated
by the control part 3, and the water may be prevented from overflowing due to an abnormal
situation.
[0217] And even when the purified water may not be normally dispensed, for example, even
when the filter 42 is separated or erroneously coupled, or a malfunction of the valve
occurs, or a malfunction of the flow sensor 312 occurs, the control part 3 may terminate
the dispensing, or may prevent the dispensing from being continuously performed.
[0218] Meanwhile, when the dispensing of the water is terminated, the screen may be switched
to the selection input part 91, and may be in a standby state of waiting for an additional
operation input, and may be switched to the state of the off-screen 801 when a set
time passed.
[0219] When the first amount area 833 or the second amount area 834 is selected in the dispensing
amount input part 93, the screen which displays the dispensing amount input part 93
is switched to a first amount or second amount confirming screen 851 or 861. In the
first amount or second amount confirming screen 851 or 861, a start input part 852
or 862, an increase and decrease input part 856 and a returning area 853 or 863 may
be displayed. In this situation, when the start input part 852 or 862 is touched,
the purified water may be dispensed through the water discharge pipe 35 of the dispenser
70 by the preset first or second amount.
[0220] And at the same time when the start input part 852 or 862 is touched, the screen
is switched to a first amount or second amount dispensing screen 854 or 864, and a
stop input part 855 or 865 is displayed. And the purified water is dispensed until
reaching the first amount or the second amount.
[0221] When the dispensing of the water is terminated, the screen is switched from the first
amount or second amount dispensing screen 854 or 864 to the screen which displays
the selection input part 91, and is in the standby state of waiting for the additional
operation input, and may be switched to the state of the off-screen 801 when the set
time passed.
[0222] Meanwhile, in the first amount or second amount confirming screen 851 or 861, the
user may operate the increase and decrease input part 856, and may finely adjust the
set capacity, and may also reset an amount which is increased or reduced from the
preset amount.
[0223] In this state, when the start input part 852 or 862 is touched, the screen is switched
at the same time when the start input part 852 or 862 is touched, and a reset amount
dispensing screen 854 or 864 is output on the display 90, and the stop input part
855 or 865 is displayed. And the purified water is dispensed until reaching the reset
amount.
[0224] When the dispensing of the water is terminated, the screen is switched from the first
amount or second amount dispensing screen 854 or 864 to the screen which displays
the selection input part 91, and is in the standby state of waiting for the additional
operation input, and may be switched to the state of the off-screen 801 when the set
time passed.
[0225] The display may be disposed at a chute cover which is located at a front of a dispensing
hole of the dispenser.
[0226] The dispenser may further include an operation lever which inputs a dispensing operation
through the dispenser, and the operation lever, the dispensing hole of the dispenser
and the display may be arranged on a straight line.
[0227] The input part may be output in the form of an icon, and a plurality of icons may
be provided on one screen.
[0228] The input part may include a selection input part which simultaneously outputs a
screen displaying the purified water and the cold water dispensed through the dispenser
so that a user selectively inputs; and a dispensing amount input part which is screen-switched
when the selection input part is operated so that the user selects an amount of dispensed
water and continuous dispensing of the water.
[0229] When the continuous dispensing of the water through the dispenser is performed for
a preset time or more, the control part may forcibly close the dispensing valve and
may terminate the dispensing.
[0230] When an error of the flow valve is recognized, the control part may control the dispensing
amount input part so that the continuous dispensing is activated or a selection input
is not input.
[0231] After the dispensing amount input part is selected, an increase and decrease input
part for operating an increase or decrease in the dispensing amount may be displayed,
and the input dispensing amount may also be simultaneously displayed on the display.
[0232] After the dispensing amount input part is selected, a screen of the display is switched,
and a start input part for displaying a selected dispensing amount and inputting a
start of the dispensing may be displayed.
[0233] After the start input part is selected, a stop input part for inputting a stop of
the dispensing may be displayed on the display.
[0234] A dispenser tray which supports a container for accommodating the water dispensed
from the dispenser may be provided under the dispensing hole of the dispenser, and
the dispenser tray may be provided to extend forward.
[0235] A light emitting member which emits light in a dispensing direction and allows a
dispensing state to be checked may be provided at the dispenser.
[0236] The light emitting member may be turned on when the dispensing of the dispenser is
operated, and then may be turned off when the dispensing is completed.
[0237] The water supply path may include a water supply pipe which connects the water purifying
device with a water source and has access through the tube guide.
[0238] Both ends of the tube guide may be opened in a direction that intersects with each
other, and openings formed at both ends of the tube guide may be connected by a path
formed to be rounded with a predetermined curvature.
[0239] The tube guide may include a rear surface which is in close contact with the outer
case and has an inlet port in which the water supply path is inserted, and a side
surface which is in close contact with the inner case and has an outlet port through
which the water supply path is withdrawn. The rear surface and the side surface may
be disposed perpendicularly to each other.
[0240] A valve which is connected to the water tank and the water purifying device so as
to switch, open and close the water supply path may be further provided at the refrigerator
compartment.
[0241] The tube guide may include a path guide part which guides the water supply path from
an inside of the refrigerator compartment to an outside thereof; and a connector installation
part to which an electric wire connected to the valve is connected.
[0242] A valve cover which accommodates the valve may be installed and fixed to an inner
side wall of the refrigerator compartment. A valve cover coupling part which is exposed
toward the refrigerator compartment and coupled to the valve cover may be provided
at the tube guide.
[0243] The valve cover which accommodates the valve may be installed and fixed to a side
wall of the refrigerator compartment. A tank installation part on which the water
tank is seated may be provided at the valve cover.
[0244] The tank installation part may be formed to extend downward from one side of the
valve cover. The tank installation part may cover a circumference of the water tank.
[0245] The tank installation part may protrude from positions corresponding to both ends
of the water tank. The tank installation part may be inserted and fixed into a recessed
portion formed at each of both ends of the water tank.
[0246] The water tank may include a cylindrical tank body, and a plurality of hemispheric
tank caps which are coupled to both ends of the tank body. The recessed portion is
formed to be recessed from a portion at which the tank body and the plurality of tank
caps are coupled.
[0247] The tank installation part may include a cover extension part which extends from
one side of the valve case so as to support the water tank, and a tank restriction
part which restricts a circumference of each of both ends of the water tank.
[0248] The tank restriction part may include a plurality of first restriction parts which
are formed along a circumference of a tank insertion hole through which the water
tank is inserted, and a second restriction part which is provided at an end of the
cover extension part located at an opposite side to the first restriction parts.
[0249] A cooling air hole which is in communication with a storage compartment and through
which cooling air in the storage compartment is suctioned may be formed at the grill
pan, and the water tank may be located on a flowing route of the cooling air introduced
into the cooling air hole.
[0250] The water supply path may include a water supply pipe which is connected from a water
source to the water purifying device inside the refrigerator compartment, and a purified
water pipe which connects the water purifying device, the water tank and the dispenser.
Both of the water supply pipe and the purified water pipe may be guided from an inside
of the refrigerator compartment to an outside thereof through the tube guide.
[0251] Ends of the water purifying device and the water tank may be disposed toward the
tube guide. The water purifying device and the water tank may be disposed to intersect
with each other.
[0252] The tube guide may be installed at one side surface of the inner case at which the
branch valve is provided.
[0253] The tube guide may form a path through which the side surface of the inner case is
in communication with a rear surface of the outer case so that the water supply pipe
and the connection pipe are guided toward the rear surface of the outer case through
the side surface of the inner case.
[0254] The branch valve and the connection pipe may be connected to each other at a space
among a corner of the refrigerator compartment, the filter case and the water tank.
[0255] The water supply pipe and the connection pipe may be connected to the plurality of
filters and the branch valve, respectively, and then may be inserted from an inside
of the refrigerator compartment into the tube guide.
[0256] The connection pipe may pass through an outside of the outer case, and may be inserted
into an inside of a refrigerator compartment door through a hinge device of the refrigerator
compartment door.
[0257] The branch valve may be connected to a purified water pipe which is in communication
with the filter and a cold water pipe which is in communication with the water tank.
The branch valve may selectively supply cold water and purified water to the connection
pipe.
[0258] A table which divides the inside of the refrigerator compartment is provided at an
upper side of the drawer, and the drawer and the filter case may be coupled to the
table.
[0259] After the water supply pipe and the connection pipe are inserted into an inside of
the tube guide, the filter case, the drawer and the table which are coupled to each
other may be installed at the inside of the refrigerator compartment to cover the
water tank.
[0260] A valve cover which forms a space in which the branch valve is accommodated may be
installed at the side wall of the refrigerator compartment.
[0261] The valve cover may be coupled and fixed to one side of the tube guide which is exposed
through the inner case.
[0262] The drawer may shield the water tank from a front of the water tank.
[0263] A filter insertion hole which is opened forward between the drawer and the side wall
of the refrigerator compartment and in which the plurality of filters are inserted
may be formed at the filter case. A plurality of filter insertion holes corresponding
to the number of the plurality of filters may be vertically arranged.
[0264] A rear surface of the filter case may be disposed to be spaced apart from a rear
wall surface of the refrigerator compartment.
[0265] The branch valve may be disposed at a space formed at a rear of the filter case and
a lateral side of the water tank.
[0266] The inlet port may be opened so as to be in communication with a side surface of
the refrigerator compartment, and the outlet port may be opened so as to be in communication
with a rear surface of the outer case.
[0267] The tube guide may include a side surface at which the inlet port is formed and which
is in close contact with the inner case, and a rear surface at which the outlet port
is formed and which is in close contact with the outer case. The side surface and
the rear surface may be disposed perpendicularly to each other.
[0268] A branch valve which is connected to the connection pipe, and opened and closed to
selectively supply water supplied from the water tank and the filter may be provided
at the refrigerator compartment.
[0269] A connector installation part at which a cable connector connected with an electric
wire connected to the branch valve is installed may be provided at the tube guide.
[0270] A tube hole may be opened at a position of the inner case corresponding to the inlet
port, and an electric wire hole may be opened at a position of the inner case corresponding
to the connector installation part.
[0271] A valve cover which accommodates the valve may be provided at the refrigerator compartment,
and a valve cover coupling part which is exposed to the inside of the refrigerator
compartment and coupled to the valve cover may be provided at the tube guide.
[0272] An evaporator for cooling the refrigerator compartment may be provided at a rear
of the refrigerator compartment, and the curved surface part may be disposed to bypass
the evaporator.
[0273] A drawer may be provided at the refrigerator compartment, and the water tank may
be disposed between the drawer and the evaporator.
[0274] The connection pipe may pass through an outside of the refrigerator, and may be inserted
into an inside of a refrigerator compartment door through a hinge device of the refrigerator
compartment door.
[0275] The branch valve may be connected to a purified water pipe which is in communication
with the filter, and a cold water pipe which is in communication with the water tank.
The branch valve may selectively supply cold water in the cold water pipe and purified
water in the purified water pipe to the connection pipe.
[0276] The pair of tank caps may be processed by curling so as to shield openings of both
sides of the tank body, and thus each of the tank caps and an end of an inner surface
of the tank body may be bonded to each other.
[0277] The water outlet pipe may be connected to an upper end of the tank cap, and may extend
upward.
[0278] The water inlet pipe may be connected to a center of one of the tank caps.
[0279] The water outlet pipe may be disposed to be distant from the inlet pipe based on
a center portion of the water tank.
[0280] The water tank may be disposed in parallel with a bottom surface of the storage space
so that the water outlet pipe is directed upward.
[0281] An end of the tank body which is in contact with each of the tank caps may be processed
by curling with silicone interposed therebetween.
[0282] A recessed portion in which a jig is inserted upon the curling may be formed at a
circumference of each of the tank caps.
[0283] A tank installation part which is inserted into an inside of the recessed portion
so as to fix the water tank may be provided at the storage space.
[0284] A cooling air hole through which cooling air discharged to the refrigerator compartment
is suctioned toward the evaporator may be formed at the grill pan, and the water tank
may be located at a front of the cooling air hole.
[0285] The water tank may be disposed to be spaced apart from a lower surface of the refrigerator
compartment and the cooling air hole.
[0286] A tank fixing part which extends from one side of the water tank, and is coupled
to a front surface of the grill pan so that the water tank is disposed and fixed to
a front of the grill pan may be formed at the water tank.
[0287] The water tank may be formed in a cylindrical shape, and may extend in a lengthwise
direction of the cooling air hole.
[0288] The water purifying device may be disposed perpendicularly to the water tank, and
may be disposed between a side wall of the refrigerator compartment and the drawer,
and a plurality of filters may be disposed to be vertically stacked.
[0289] A part of the water supply path which is connected to an outlet port of the first
branch valve and passes through the hinge is configured with a single pipe, and inserted
into a side of the refrigerator compartment door.
[0290] A second branch valve which selectively supplies the purified water to the dispenser
and the ice maker is provided at the water supply path inside the refrigerator compartment
door.
[0291] The water supply path inside the refrigerator compartment door comprises a cold water
pipe through which the cold water supplied from the main water tank flows, and a sub-water
tank which is connected to the cold water pipe and additionally cools the cold water
supplied from the main water tank is provided at an inside of the refrigerator compartment
door.
[0292] The cold water pipe connects the sub-water tank with the dispenser, and the cold
water pipe is connected to a dispensing valve which is opened and closed to selectively
supply the cold water to the dispenser.
[0293] The hinge may comprise a hinge shaft which passes through an upper end of the refrigerator
compartment door, and the water supply path passes through a hollow of the hinge shaft,
and is inserted into an inside of the refrigerator compartment door.
[0294] An electric wire which is connected to the dispenser and the ice maker is inserted
into the inside of the refrigerator compartment door through the hollow of the hinge
shaft.
[0295] The first branch valve is disposed at the first space, and located above the main
water tank.
[0296] An inlet port of a path through which the water supply path has access is formed
at a side wall of the first space, and the path bypasses an evaporator located at
a rear of the refrigerator compartment, and an outlet port of the path is formed at
a rear surface of the cabinet.
[0297] An evaporator is provided at a rear of the refrigerator compartment, and the first
space is disposed to be overlapped with a space, at which the evaporator is disposed,
in a forward and backward direction.
[0298] The water purifying device forms one side surface of the drawer assembly, and an
access guide which guides inserting and withdrawing of the drawer is provided at a
side surface of the water purifying device.
[0299] The drawer is disposed at a front of the main water tank, and a shield plate which
forms a front surface of the first space and has a cooling air flowing hole for supplying
cooling air to the first space is provided at a rear of the drawer.
[0300] A grill pan which shields an evaporator is formed at a rear of the main water tank,
and the cooling air hole provided at the grill pan, the main water tank and the cooling
air flowing hole are arranged in a forward and backward direction.
[0301] A cooling air guide which extends toward the main water tank so that the cooling
air passing through the cooling air flowing hole flows along an outer surface of the
water tank is provided at a circumference of the cooling air flowing hole.
[0302] The drawer assembly comprises a table which is spaced apart from a bottom surface
of the refrigerator compartment and divides the refrigerator compartment; and a plurality
of side plates which extend downward from the table and support the drawer to be inserted
and withdrawn, and at least one of the plurality of side plates forms a side surface
of the water purifying device.
[0303] The drawer may comprise an accommodation part which forms a food accommodation space;
a front surface part which forms an exterior of a front surface of the accommodation
part; and a shielding part which extends to a lateral side of the front surface part
and shields the water purifying device from a front thereof.
[0304] A withdrawing length of the drawer is longer than a length of the filter.
[0305] The water purifying device may comprise a case which forms one surface of the drawer
assembly and supports the drawer, and the plurality of filters is accommodated in
the case.
[0306] The water purifying device may further comprise a head unit which is provided inside
the case, selectively connected to an end of each of the plurality of filters, and
is in communication with the water supply path, and a plurality of filter holes which
are opened to insert the plurality of filters are formed at a front surface of the
case.
[0307] All of the plurality of filter holes are shielded by a case cover installed at the
front surface of the case.
[0308] The water purifying device is disposed in a direction that intersects with the main
water tank.
[0309] The dispensing valve and the branch valve are installed and fixed to a rear surface
of the cover plate.
[0310] The sub-water tank may comprise a tube in which the water is accommodated, and a
tube reel on which the tube is wound and which is fixed to the cover plate, and the
tube is wound several times in one row on the tube reel.
[0311] The tube reel may comprise: a base which is fixed to the cover plate; a tube boss
which protrudes from a center of the base and on which the tube is wound; and a plurality
of alignment guides which extend radially from an protruding end of the tube boss
and align the tube.
[0312] The base and the alignment guides are spaced apart from each other by a distance
corresponding to a diameter of the tube.
[0313] A guide opening which is formed in a shape corresponding to the alignment guide is
formed at the base.
[0314] One of the plurality of alignment guides is formed shorter than the other alignment
guides.
[0315] The water supply path is connected to the sub-water tank by a tank connector, and
a connector fixing part which restricts the tank connector is formed at the tube reel.
[0316] The refrigerator may further comprise a folding prevention member through which the
tube passes and which is formed to be bent with a predetermined curvature and to prevent
the tube from being folded.
[0317] The folding prevention member is installed and fixed to the tube reel.
[0318] A screw hole through which a screw passing through the cover plate and fastened to
the refrigerator compartment door so as to fix the cover plate passes is formed at
the cover plate, and a plate guide which guides the tube to bypass the screw hole
is further provided at a lateral side of the screw hole.
[0319] An inlet port of the branch valve extends downward, and is directly connected to
the water supply path connected to the water purifying device.
[0320] An opening part through which the water supply path has access is formed at the door
recessed portion to be vertically opened.
[0321] A connector installation part which is connected to a control part and to which a
connector of an electric wire connected to the dispensing valve and the branch valve
is fastened is provided at an upper surface of the door recessed portion.
[0322] The water supply path passes through the hinge via an outside of the refrigerator
compartment, and is inserted into the refrigerator compartment door.
[0323] A volume of an inner space of the sub-water tank is larger than a volume of an inner
space of a portion of the water supply path which is located at an outside of the
refrigerator compartment.
[0324] The volume of the inner space of the sub-water tank is larger than a volume of an
inner space of a portion of the water supply path from an outlet port of the main
water tank to an inlet port of the sub-water tank.
[0325] The sub-water tank comprises a tube which has the same inner diameter as that of
the water supply path and is wound several times, and a length of the tube is longer
than a length from an outlet port of the main water tank to an inlet port of the sub-water
tank.
[0326] The sub-water tank is located at a rear of the dispenser.
[0327] The refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention can provide
the following effects.
[0328] First, since the water purifying device, the main water tank and the first branch
valve are disposed at the inside of the refrigerator compartment to intersect with
each other, the paths can be connected in the shortest distance. Also since the refrigerator
has an arrangement structure in which the water purifying device, the main water tank
and the first branch valve are in close contact with the side wall of the refrigerator
compartment and the front surface of the grill pan, a loss of the storage space of
the refrigerator compartment can be prevented, in spite of an additional configuration
for the purified water and the cold water.
[0329] Also, since the tube guide for access of the water supply path is installed at the
side wall of the refrigerator compartment, and the water purifying device, the main
water tank and the first branch valve are disposed at a position close to the tube
guide, a path structure can be simply formed, and a length of the path can be minimized,
and thus assemblability can be enhanced.
[0330] In particular, when the evaporator is provided at a rear of the refrigerator compartment,
there is a problem that the water supply path is not easily arranged. However, the
water supply path can be bypassed from the side surface of the refrigerator compartment
to the rear surface of the cabinet by the tube guide, and thus the assemblability
can be remarkably enhanced.
[0331] Also, since the first branch valve is disposed at the inner wall surface of the refrigerator
compartment, and the main water tank is disposed at the front surface of the grill
pan, and then the drawer assembly integrally formed with the water purifying device
is installed, and thus the arrangement of each configuration is completed, the assemblability
and the installation convenience can be enhanced.
[0332] Also, since the first branch valve which can selectively supply the purified water
and the cold water is provided at the inside of the refrigerator compartment, the
pipe which is directed from the cabinet toward the refrigerator compartment door via
the hinge device can be configured with a single pipe.
[0333] Therefore, an inner diameter of a hinge shaft of the hinge device can be maintained
in an appropriate size, and particularly, since the single pipe can be applied even
to a structure in which both of the cold water and the purified water are supplied,
the inner diameter of the hinge shaft can be prevented from being increased, and a
design of the door and the hinge device can be facilitated.
[0334] Also, due to the structure in which the single pipe is introduced into the inside
of the refrigerator compartment door, confusion of a path connection in the refrigerator
compartment door can be prevented, and a path connection structure can be easily realized.
[0335] Also, the display which can display state information and an operation of the dispenser
is provided on the chute cover of the dispenser, and thus a user interface which can
be easily and intuitionally operated can be realized on the display through screen-switching,
and thus user convenience can be enhanced.
[0336] In particular, since the display is disposed close to the portion through which the
water or the ice is dispensed and the operation lever, user's state confirmation and
operation can be simultaneously performed, and thus the user convenience can be enhanced.
[0337] Also, since the main water tank is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a structure
of the inner surface thereof is formed simply and smoothly, foreign substances can
be prevented from being attached to the inner surface of the main water tank, and
a cleaning operation can be effectively performed when the cleaning operation is performed
using a cleaning solution.
[0338] Also, since the main water tank is formed of a stainless steel material, and formed
at a position close to the refrigerator compartment evaporator, the main water tank
can be directly cooled, and thus can be effectively cooled.
[0339] And since the main water tank is disposed between the cooling air hole of the grill
pan and the cooling air flowing hole of the shielding plate, and thus indirectly cooled
by the cooling air collected toward the evaporator, the cooling efficiency can be
enhanced.
[0340] Also, since the main water tank is formed in the cylindrical shape so as not to disturb
the flow of the cooling air, and also disposed to be spaced apart from the lower surface
of the refrigerator compartment, an area thereof which is in contact with the cooling
air can be maximized, and thus the cooling efficiency can be further enhanced.